International Management of Customer Orientation

This study investigates the role of customer orientation of service employees (COSE) and its influence on customer satisfaction and on electronic word of mouth (e-WOM), with a focus on international management. An empirical study was conducted amongst hotel customers with a final valid sample of 265 respondents. Digital capabilities have been included in the COSE model for the first time. Findings indicate that digital capabilities have a positive influence on customer satisfaction that is mediated by COSE. This study has also compared differences between international and national firms and also considered family businesses and non-family businesses. Results show that international hotels have a higher level of COSE than national hotels, mainly due to the technical skills of the employees, and the presence of a higher level of COSE in family businesses (FBs) rather than in non-family businesses (NFBs). Some contributions to academia and to international management have been discussed

Controlling green mould rot of lemons by means of ultraviolet-C irradiation

[SPA] La podredumbre verde ocasionada por Penicillium digitatum es la enfermedad poscosecha más importante de limones en España, siendo responsable de más del 60% de las podredumbres que afectan a este fruto. Sin embargo, el control de la enfermedad es difícil debido a la restricción al uso de fungicidas de síntesis y a la aparición de aislados resistentes a estos fungicidas. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en evaluar el efecto de la radiación ultravioleta-C (UV-C) sobre el crecimiento de P. digitatum in vitro e in vivo, estudiando las curvas del crecimiento del micelio a 15ºC y 85% HR durante 10 días. Se evaluó diariamente la incidencia y severidad de la podredumbre. El crecimiento del hongo in vitro fue más lento cuando éste fue irradiado. Sin embargo, este efecto no se observó cuando el hongo fue irradiado en los frutos inoculados, excepto a partir del quinto día de radiación. El descenso de la tasa de crecimiento fue inmediato cuando los frutos fueron inoculados dos días después de la radiación. Estos resultados sugirieron que la UV-C actuó principalmente induciendo las defensas del fruto. [ENG] Green mould rot caused by Penicillium digitatum is the most important postharvest disease of lemon fruits in Spain causing more than 60% of total losses due to decay along the commercialization period. However, synthetic fungicides have been withdrawn from the market mainly due to selection of resistant fungal isolates and toxicity to humans and environment. The objective of this work consisted of evaluating the effect of ultraviolet-C illumination (UV-C) on the in vitro and in vivo growth of P. digitatum by means of evaluating the mycelial growth curves at 15ºC and 85% RH for 10 days, then incidence and severity of decay were daily monitored. Mycelial growth rate decreased in vitro but not grown on irradiated fruits. In this case, UV-C reduced growth from the fifth day after irradiating whereas this reduction was immediately observed after inoculating fruits irradiated two days before. Results suggested that UV-C was mainly useful to reduce fungal growth mediated by some mechanism of inducible defence.Expresamos nuestro agradecimiento a la S.A.T. 9821 Grupo CFM de Fuente Álamo por el suministro del material vegetal y la financiación de este trabajo

In vitro response of Penicillium ulaiense to postharvest fungicides

[SPA] Penicillium ulaiense es un patógeno de frutos cítricos poco conocido hasta la fecha, ya que tradicionalmente, los patógenos penicílicos de los agrios se han identificado como P. digitatum y P. italicum. Sin embargo, P. ulaiense ha sido citado como patógeno de los cítricos en varios países desde la década de los 80, especialmente asiáticos. El continuo devenir de frutas a lo largo de los cinco continentes, acrecienta la sospecha de que la especie se haya infiltrado en Europa y, particularmente en España. En efecto, P. ulaiense ya ha sido detectado en nuestro país, es posible que se encuentre extendido, y que sea el agente causal de bastantes podredumbres penicílicas, pero puede pasar desapercibido por su enorme semejanza visual con las especies clásicas. En este trabajo, se pretende caracterizar el crecimiento de esta especie y compararla con P. digitatum y P. italicum. Así mismo, se estudia el efecto de los fungicidas tiabendazol y pirimetanil. Los resultados denotaron una tasa de crecimiento muy baja y dispersión de colonias de P. ulaiense, respecto a P. digitatum y P. italicum. Esta menor actividad se pudo traducir en un mayor control de la conidiogénesis por el uso de los dos fungicidas ensayados. [ENG] Penicillium ulaiense is a pathogen of citrus fruits little known to date, since traditionally, pathogens belong to Penicillium sp. of citrus fruits have been identified as P. digitatum and P. italicum. However, P. ulaiense has been cited as a citrus pathogen since the 1980s in several countries, especially in Asia. The continuous development of fruits throughout the five continents increases the hypothesis that this species has expanded to Europe, including Spain. In fact, P. ulaiense has already been detected in our country. It is possible that it is widespread can be unnoticed due to this species is very similar to the classical Penicillium species which cause citrus decay, such as P. digitatum and P. italicum. In this work, growth of an isolate of this species is characterised and compared to P. digitatum and P. italicum. Likewise, the effect of the thiabendazole and pyrimethanil fungicides is studied. The results showed a very low growth rate and conidial dispersion of P. ulaiense colonies with regard to P. digitatum and P. italicum. This low activity could be translated into a higher control of conidia production by the use of the two fungicides tested.A la empresa S.A.T. 9821 GRUPO CFM, por la financiación de este trabajo. A CITROSOL, especialmente a Celia Murciano, por el suministro e identificación del aislado de P. ulaiense. Finalmente, a Pablo Crespo de DECCÓ IBÉRICA por la entrega de DECCO PYR (pirimetanil)

Hidrogenionic potential (pH) of the attractant, trap density and control threshold for Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: tephritidae) on Hamlin oranges in São Paulo central region, Brazil

This study evaluated the effect of initial pH values of 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5 of the attractant (protein bait) Milhocina® and borax (sodium borate) in the feld, on the capture of fruit flies in McPhail traps, using 1, 2, 4 and 8 traps per hectare, in order to estimate control thresholds in a Hamlin orange grove in the central region of the state of São Paulo. The most abundant fruit fly species was Ceratitis capitata, comprising almost 99% of the fruit flies captured, of which 80% were females. The largest captures of C. capitata were found in traps baited with Milhocina® and borax at pH 8.5. Captures per trap for the four densities were similar, indicating that the population can be estimated with one trap per hectare in areas with high populations. It was found positive relationships between captures of C. capitata and the number of Hamlin oranges damaged, 2 and 3 weeks after capture. It was obtained equations that correlate captures and damage levels which can be used to estimate control thresholds. The average loss caused in Hamlin orange fruits by C. capitata was 2.5 tons per hectare or 7.5% of production.Esta pesquisa teve como objetivos: avaliar o efeito do pH inicial, 4.5; 6.5 e 8.5, do atrativo proteico Milhocina® e bórax (tetraborato de sódio) na captura de moscas-das-frutas em armadilhas McPhail; estudar densidades de armadilhas, 1; 2; 4 e 8 por hectare, para estimar níveis de controle em laranja cv. Hamlin, na região central de São Paulo. A espécie predominante, com 99% das moscas-das-frutas capturadas, foi Ceratitis capitata, sendo 80% de fêmeas. As maiores capturas de C. capitata ocorreram nas armadilhas com Milhocina® e bórax em pH 8.5. As capturas, nas 4 densidades, foram semelhantes, indicando que a população pode ser estimada com uma armadilha por hectare em áreas de altas populações. Houve relações positivas entre capturas de C. capitata e o número de frutos danificados, 2 e 3 semanas após a captura. Assim, foram obtidas equações que relacionam a captura e o dano, possibilitando estimar níveis de controle desse inseto. As perdas médias causadas por C. capitata em laranja cv. Hamlin chegaram a 2,5 toneladas de frutos por hectare ou 7,5% da produção.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Actitud hacia las personas mayores y variables asociadas en un grupo de estudiantes universitarios del ámbito de la educación

Attitudes are defined as a construct that implies a state of mental disposition (cognitive and affective aspects) that influence our perception, thinking and motivation, and direct our behaviors. Attitudes become determinant elements in predicting positive or negative behaviors towards others, especially towards the elderly. The aim of this study is to know the attitudes of the students of university degrees in education, since they will be the next professionals to educate. Knowing the attitudes and variables that may influence them may be a key aspect for developing subsequent interventions, as well as for improving attitudes towards the elderly and, therefore, their care. This study shows that the attitude is moderately positive, and that a more positive attitude is related to having interest in old age issues, and to four human strengths such as love, kindness, gratitude and humility. Las actitudes se definen como un constructo que implica un estado de disposición mental (aspectos cognitivos y afectivos) que influyen en nuestra percepción, pensamiento y motivación, y dirigen nuestras conductas. Las actitudes se convierten en elementos determinantes para predecir conductas positivas o negativas hacia los demás, especialmente hacia las personas mayores. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las actitudes del alumnado de títulos universitarios de educación, ya que serán los próximos profesionales que eduquen. Conocer las actitudes y variables que puedan influir en estas puede ser un aspecto clave para desarrollar intervenciones posteriores, así como, para mejorar las actitudes hacia el mayor, y, por ende, su atención. Este estudio muestra que la actitud es moderadamente positiva, y que una actitud más positiva está relacionada con tener interés por temas de vejez, y con cuatro fortalezas humanas como son el amor, la bondad, la gratitud y la humildad

A voxel-wise assessment of growth differences in infants developing autism spectrum disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a phenotypically and etiologically heterogeneous developmental disorder typically diagnosed around 4 years of age. The development of biomarkers to help in earlier, presymptomatic diagnosis could facilitate earlier identification and therefore earlier intervention and may lead to better outcomes, as well as providing information to help better understand the underlying mechanisms of ASD. In this study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of infants at high familial risk, from the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS), at 6, 12 and 24 months of age were included in a morphological analysis, fitting a mixed-effects model to Tensor Based Morphometry (TBM) results to obtain voxel-wise growth trajectories. Subjects were grouped by familial risk and clinical diagnosis at 2 years of age. Several regions, including the posterior cingulate gyrus, the cingulum, the fusiform gyrus, and the precentral gyrus, showed a significant effect for the interaction of group and age associated with ASD, either as an increased or a decreased growth rate of the cerebrum. In general, our results showed increased growth rate within white matter with decreased growth rate found mostly in grey matter. Overall, the regions showing increased growth rate were larger and more numerous than those with decreased growth rate. These results detail, at the voxel level, differences in brain growth trajectories in ASD during the first years of life, previously reported in terms of overall brain volume and surface area

Functional diversity of chemokines and chemokine receptors in response to viral infection of the central nervous system.

Encounters with neurotropic viruses result in varied outcomes ranging from encephalitis, paralytic poliomyelitis or other serious consequences to relatively benign infection. One of the principal factors that control the outcome of infection is the localized tissue response and subsequent immune response directed against the invading toxic agent. It is the role of the immune system to contain and control the spread of virus infection in the central nervous system (CNS), and paradoxically, this response may also be pathologic. Chemokines are potent proinflammatory molecules whose expression within virally infected tissues is often associated with protection and/or pathology which correlates with migration and accumulation of immune cells. Indeed, studies with a neurotropic murine coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), have provided important insight into the functional roles of chemokines and chemokine receptors in participating in various aspects of host defense as well as disease development within the CNS. This chapter will highlight recent discoveries that have provided insight into the diverse biologic roles of chemokines and their receptors in coordinating immune responses following viral infection of the CNS

The exposure of the hybrid detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It consists of a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level and a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The "hybrid" detection mode combines the information from the two subsystems. We describe the determination of the hybrid exposure for events observed by the fluorescence telescopes in coincidence with at least one water-Cherenkov detector of the surface array. A detailed knowledge of the time dependence of the detection operations is crucial for an accurate evaluation of the exposure. We discuss the relevance of monitoring data collected during operations, such as the status of the fluorescence detector, background light and atmospheric conditions, that are used in both simulation and reconstruction.Comment: Paper accepted by Astroparticle Physic